Riggs Wilder Deming was the first baby born in 2019 in Grand Rapids at the Family Birthplace at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Riggs was born at 1:16 a.m. weighing 8 pounds and 9 ounces. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"He's just so cute and we are so excited," said his mother, Lexie Deming. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Riggs' dad, Ian Deming, and Lexie hold their son. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Riggs wears a Naval Academy hat to match his dad's U.S. Navy shirt. Ian served in the Navy for five years. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Ian holds his son after swaddling him in his blanket. "You and daddy match!" Lexie said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Riggs' due date was New Year's Eve, but when Lexie went into labor on Sunday, she wasn't so sure he would wait. He proved her wrong. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"When it got to the point that he was going to come out, our nurse came in and said, 'We have to get this baby out! He could be the New Year's baby, we are all betting on it,'" Lexie said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Jeanne Tomasek, Riggs' grandma, holds her grandson. This is her and her husband Paul's first grandchild. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Lexie, Ian and baby Riggs pose for a photo with Lexie's parents, Jeanne and Paul Tomasek. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"His birthday will always be a party," Lexie said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
“He’s just so cute and we are so excited,” said his mother, Lexie Deming.
Riggs’ due date was New Year’s Eve, but when Lexie went into labor Sunday, she wasn’t so sure he would wait. He proved her wrong and Lexie labored for 30 hours.
“When it got to the point that he was going to come out, our nurse came in and said, ‘We have to get this baby out! He could be the New Year’s baby—we are all betting on it,'” Lexie said.
Riggs came out weighing 8 pounds and 9 ounces.
“The nurse said he had the second-biggest head she has ever seen,” Lexie said while laughing.
The hospital room was filled with love, including Riggs’ dad, Ian Deming, and his two grandparents, Jeanne and Paul Tomasek. This is Lexie and Ian’s first child and Jeanne and Paul’s first grandchild.
Holiday birthdays don’t exactly run in the family, although Lexie’s birthday happens to fall on Groundhog Day.
“I was born on Groundhog Day,” Lexie said. “His is a little bit better of a holiday.”
She’d once heard that the odds are usually 4 percent that babies are born on their actual due dates. Her little guy arrived right on cue.
“His birthday will always be a party,” Lexie said.